Joska: Fresh worry as Athi river looks like breaking its banks again

A video taken by one of the residents on Monday around 8:00 am, and sent to Wananchi Reporting, showed a swollen river Athi looking to swallow the important crossing between Joska and Kamulu.

“It’s still morning and already you can see the river is full almost to the brim. It’s only a matter of time before it spills onto the bridge and the road, completely covering the road and making it impassable,” said one of the residents of Joska.

According to the residents of the area – most of whom work in Nairobi – this would be the third time since the rains began, that the area would be cut off should it happen.

Most of the waters come from the Ngong hills, flowing down to the area and causing a deluge.

Motorists and other public service vehicles plying the Joska, Malaa and Tala route have had to take a much longer alternative route – going round through Machakos.

This means that travellers have to pay bus fare threefold to get home or to work.

Police have in the past been stationed at the flooded crossing to stop daredevil motorists and pedestrians from attempting to cross the flooded bridge.

A resident told Wananchi Reporting that a lot of water comes downstream, spilling onto the road around early afternoon – based on previous experiences.

The water takes a while to recede, forcing motorists and pedestrians to wait for hours before they can cross.

On Friday, President William Ruto said persistent torrential rainfall had unleashed devastating floods across the country – and had claimed over 200 lives, destroyed property and caused injuries to many.